Essential items stolen as thieves trash ADHD centre
LISBURN Councillor Arder Carson has appealed to vandals who destroyed a local support centre for children with ADHD to return vital resource material that was also stolen.
Mr Carson, who is also Chairman of Lisburn's District Policing Partnership, made the appeal after vandals broke into and seriously damaged the community centre in Poleglass.
"During the break in two resource packs, which cost 1000 each, were stolen," explained Mr Carson. "These packs can only be purchased from America and they are invaluable.
"The packs contain handbooks for developmental work with young people diagnosed with ADHD, and includes tutor notes, session plans, DVDs and CDs.
"I would appeal for those involved to either return the two packs because they are essential or to leave them somewhere they can be collected."
Speaking after the break in overnight on Friday (July 16), Angela Nesbitt, co-ordinator of the parents ADHD support group, said everyone was devastated by the attack, during which the doors where kicked in, paint thrown and expletives daubed on the walls. An attempt was also made inside to set the building alight, while a second fire was started outside.
"I think I cried, that was my first response," she said. "I was just very quiet and I cried. I just thought of how long it took us to get here and within a couple of hours it's been wiped out.
"It's not just about a living room, or an art room, or a counselling room. It's the families that are affected by the damage that's been done."
Angela, whose son suffers from ADHD, said the facility was set up and financed entirely by volunteers over a two-year period.
"The money that built this centre was given by ordinary mums who have special needs children or who have been affected by or living with ADHD," she continued. "It took a lot for them to give a couple of pounds, so I was very upset. It took us two years to really build this centre and all without mainstream funding."
After the attack the support group says it has been forced to postpone plans to start a new programme with 12 new families and 14 children.
"My fear now is that there'll be a gap between diagnosis and support for special needs children in the area," she said.
julieann.spence@ulsterstar.co.uk
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Friday 10 February 2012
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